This article provides a critical in-depth examination of the use of victim impact statements in Canadian sentencing proceedings. Victim impact statements are an entrenched feature of the sentencing process and criminal justice attitudes to their use appears to have become more positive. The aims of the victim impact statements, including increased victim satisfaction with the judicial process, awareness by offenders of the harm they have caused and the provision of a sense of closure to victims, appears to have been met for many victims of crime. Victim impact statements give victims a meaningful voice but do not give victims decision making powers. Areas for future research are identified, including an assessment on how victims feel after submitting a victim impact statement and how offenders are affected by hearing about the impact of their crime from the victim.